A man barricaded himself in a Northeast Baltimore apartment building Friday night after confronting a police officer there with what authorities described as a makeshift blowtorch, city police said. Around 11 p.m., police said they had taken a man into custody.

City police were called to an apartment building housing elderly residents in the 6400 block Loch Raven Boulevard about 8:30 p.m. for a report of breaking and entering, according to city police spokespeople. The officer encountered a man in the lobby carrying a blowtorch, police say. The suspect directed a flame at the officer, who returned fire with his weapon, police say, and then the suspect ran into the building, barricading himself on an upper floor. Police later identified the suspect as Sean Lee of Baltimore. Lee was arrested on multiple charges including assault and arson.

Benjamin Angel, who lives nearby, said he heard police sirens and came to the scene. He said he informed police he saw a man in an upper-floor apartment window flashing what appeared to be a light.

Police from Baltimore County as well as the city were on the scene, as were fire and ambulance crews. Residents of the building were being evacuated to a nearby location.